When kids want to dress up, most of us buy dress-up costumes designed for Halloween or themed for kids’ movies. What we forget is that when it comes to dress-up it’s not necessary to spend a lot of money.

Point Whitehorn Marine Reserve, just south of Birch Bay, is among the county’s newest parks, obtained with more than $1 million from fines paid in the 1999 Whatcom Falls Park pipeline disaster and donated to Whatcom County by the Whatcom Land Trust.

Whatcom County has plenty of places away from bright city lights to watch celestial events, but our persistently cloudy skies often disappoint when it comes time to see a “supermoon” or an eclipse of any sort.

Recent rebuilding of the raised boardwalk at Tennant Lake Park and Fragrance Garden makes the 1.4-mile trail through the fields and wetlands an enjoyable stroll that’s as much a feast for the nose and ears as it is for the eyes.

These area trails beckon summertime day-trekkers. Always be sure to bring sturdy shoes, sunscreen, snacks and water. A camera, binoculars, pocket magnifier and field guide will heighten the experience for young nature-lovers.

CHICAGO - As Dayleen Marrero walked through what was once a hallway to her West Town apartment on a recent Wednesday, she pointed through a hole in the drywall to a soaked kitchen, a muddy living room and a charred bedroom upstairs exposed to the sky.

Summer is fully upon us, in all its glory. And by "glory" we mean that it's hot, sticky and sweaty. (Almost enough to make you forget what a brutal winter it was. Almost.) For those of you looking for ways to cool down, try these.

Q.: I understand the importance of both parents interacting in the best interest of their child, but anticipating a conversation with my son's father makes my stomach queasy. So much so that I recently suggested he pick our son up at my mother's house. Is that good ex-etiquette?

Perhaps it's a sign of maturity that, for a recent high school reunion, I worried not about the extent of my wrinkles or the number of pounds I may have added since the last event. No, nothing so banal. My concern revolved around one factor that would've never mattered forty years ago:

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